Your Donation Does the Greatest Good for Our Community

We owe everything we have become to the generous support of our community.

Mary Elizabeth Child Care & Preschool has served families and their young children throughout the greater Sioux City, Iowa area since 1914. From our humble beginning in a circus tent and a handful of volunteers, we have grown to become a respected child care program in our community with a team of passionate child care professionals.

Your financial contribution to Mary Elizabeth Child Care & Preschool will do far-reaching good. It provides a safe haven for children in our community to grow and flourish in.

In essence, your donation will have a profound effect on our community; not just today, but also decades from now as the children we once cared for become happy and productive members of society.

We are grateful for donations of any size. Even the smallest gift can put snacks, books and art supplies into our kids’ hands. Larger ones can pay for months and even years of several kids’ care and education. We thank you in advance!

Fund the Fun Year-Round Project

Our Fund the Fun Year-Round project will consist of excavating, leveling and pouring a soft surface product over the playground for the children to be able to play on year-round. This product has evidence-based performance that would meet the needs of our children for many years to come. Ryan Bolinger, Board Member and Project Manager for W.A. Klinger completed the majority of the product research over this last year and is willing to supervise the project for Mary Elizabeth Child Care Center.

We continue actively researching new grants, donation and fundraising opportunities to help us reach our goal. Currently, contributions include one private donation, one foundation gift, and a donation from Bishop Heelan’s Annual Hall of Pride basketball game fundraiser. An online campaign is underway for Mary Elizabeth Alum to share their memories and smile stories on social media. The ability for cash donations via a link to a Venmo/Paypal account will soon become available on various social media venues with this campaign.

2020 Short Term Goal

Raise $28,000.00 to cover the costs of installing the soft surface product over the school-age children’s 2,500 sq. ft. ball field where team sports are played.

Three-Year Major Goal

Raise $50,000.00 to completely cover the 6,250 sq. ft. school-age children’s playground in a soft, weatherproof surface to allow the children to play year-round on a safe and clean surface. This amount will fund not only the cost of supplies, but also the labor to have it professionally installed.

Worthy Cause Needing Community Support

The value of our children being able to play outdoors in fresh air is scientifically immeasurable and difficult to put a price tag on. The Board of Directors is motivated to make this fundraising effort a priority! As a non-profit organization, it takes the support and generosity of the Siouxland community to enable us to continue our goal of providing the daily availability of a year-round playground for our children.

Project Impact

We have prioritized undertaking the ball field first in our fundraising efforts as Mary Elizabeth believes and is aware that team sports do help children foster healthy key developmental skills such as teamwork, problem solving, and friendship development. Mary Elizabeth encourages exercise and movement every day for children of all ages as a means to assist in reaching their full potential. Having the daily availability of a year-round playground will have a direct impact on the health and safety of the children enrolled in both our childcare and preschool programs.

“Where Love and Learning Go Hand in Hand”

Ways to Donate

Annual Campaign Appeal

Adopt-a-Class Donation Form

* Student Parent Scholarship

Every year we have Student-Parents who work and go to school. Because of that additional income, it puts them over the guidelines and they are not eligible for government assistance with their child care. Recently, we had 6 student parents.

$2,500 will Scholarship a Student Parent for a school year.

* Part Time Working Parent Scholarship

The current trend is for businesses to hire more part time workers. However, if you do not work more than 28 hours per week you cannot get State Child Care Assistance.

$150 will scholarship them per month.

* Shelter Family Scholarship

Each year we have a few families who are living at one of the Shelters, or are homeless. This may be due to domestic violence or drug or alcohol abuse. The parent needs child care while they attend counseling, are working, looking for work, or going to school. We scholarship their child care if they are not eligible for any assistance.

$135 per week will provide them with a scholarship.

The Adopt-A-Class Program

The Adopt- A- Class Program was started a number of years ago to raise money for educational classroom materials and field trips for the children of Mary Elizabeth Child Care Center. Area businesses, individuals and civic groups can donate money to support specific classroom activities. The program provides a great opportunity to help needy children in Siouxland. With your tax-deductible donation of at least $100 the classrooms will purchase much needed supplies throughout the year i.e. craft materials, large motor equipment, music, movement, educational materials, and help offset expenses for various activities like Field Trips, Swim Lessons, and Tumble Bus. Your group may also choose to do a supplies drive for the classrooms and collect such items as kleenex, toothpaste, washable markers, spiral notebooks, paper towels, etc. You can request a list. Or your company may do an event like a Jeans Day, to raise an amount over the $100. You will receive an adoption certificate to display, acknowledging your community support. Thank you for your consideration of our Program.

Adopt–a–Class Donation Form

A Message from Our Board

We thank you for your consideration of our program in your End of Year Giving. Amounts of $25 or more will be acknowledged. We have been able to serve Siouxland families since 1914, thanks to generous people like you. Any amount is greatly appreciated.